Heart rate responses to predation risk in Salmo trutta are affected by the rearing environment

Authors: Sundström, L. F.¹; Petersson, E.; Johnsson, J. I.; Dannewitz, J.; Höjesjö, J.¹; Järvi, T.²

Source: Journal of Fish Biology, Volume 67, Number 5, October 2005 , pp. 1280-1286(7)

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Abstract:

Both wild- and hatchery-reared brown trout Salmotrutta, 18 months of age and of the same genetic origin, responded with increased heart rates (tachycardia) to a simulated predator attack on 2 consecutive days. Brown trout reared in the hatchery showed a more rapidly induced tachycardia compared with wild-reared fish at day 1, but not day 2. During an undisturbed period several hours after attacks, hatchery-reared brown trout maintained higher heart rates compared to wild-reared fish on both days. Behavioural responses to the attack were very low for all fish, although hatchery-reared fish tended to be more active than wild fish after the attack day 2. The observed differences may have had a genetic background caused by different selection regimes in the hatchery- and wild-rearing environments, or could have been due to different phenotypic responses in the two environments.

Keywords: antipredator; bradycardia; hatchery; predator attack; tachycardia; wild

Document Type: Regular paper

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2005.00822.x

Affiliations: 1: Göteborg University, Department of Zoology/Animal Ecology, Box 463, SE-405 30, Göteborg, Sweden, 2: Division of Population Genetics, Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

Publication date: 2005-10-01